Leg spasms, often caused by overuse, dehydration, or dietary deficiencies, can be painful but usually resolve on their own. Medical conditions such as spinal stenosis or neurological disorders can also cause spasms. Stretching, heat and cold, and staying hydrated can help prevent and alleviate spasms.
Leg spasms occur when a muscle in the leg, usually the calf, suddenly contracts involuntarily, causing a sensation sometimes called charley crotch. They can be painful and momentarily debilitating, but usually resolve on their own with little or no treatment. Sometimes the spasms can be the result of improper exercise, a dietary deficiency, or dehydration. Cramps and spasms can also be caused by medication side effects or an underlying medical condition, but many have no recognizable cause.
Leg spasms can result from overuse or repetitive use of a muscle, such as while riding a bike or doing squats. Even drinking too little water during or after exercise can cause leg cramps, especially when running or jogging on a hot day. A lack of magnesium, potassium, or calcium can also trigger cramps, and medications that lower potassium levels, such as prescriptions for high blood pressure, can cause spasms.
Painful leg cramps and spasms also have a variety of medical causes. For example, spinal stenosis, a compression of the spinal cord, can cause the legs to spasm due to inadequate nerve conduction. Another spinal condition called sciatica compresses the large sciatic nerve that runs from the spine down the leg, which can cause a charley horse in the calf and cause spasms. Some neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, can also cause leg spasms and uncontrollable twitching. Reduced blood flow to the legs, often caused by atherosclerosis, can cause leg pain while walking. Other medical conditions that can contribute to spasms include anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and low blood sugar.
Although a doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant if leg spasms regularly disturb a person’s sleep, stretching and the application of heat and cold are the most frequently recommended treatments to relieve leg cramps. For example, during a calf spasm, straightening the leg and pulling the toe toward the head will stretch the constricted muscle and help ease the spasm. Massage can also help the muscle relax the contraction. Applying a heating pad to the affected area, followed by an ice pack, can also reduce leg pain.
Prevention is usually the key to eliminating exercise-induced leg spasms. Fitness experts often recommend stretching before a workout to warm up your muscles. It is also recommended that you drink plenty of water before, during and after strenuous exercise. For spasms due to spinal stenosis or sciatica, walking slightly bent to relieve stress on the spinal cord or sciatic nerve may provide relief. Stretching before bed can help prevent leg cramps while you sleep.
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